Frequently Asked Questions about BRAE

Answered by Dr. Richard Cavaletto, BRAE Department Head: Thanks for inquiring about BRAE at Cal Poly. While the competition to get into Cal Poly is rigorous, it isn’t impossible. Admission is competitive among the students that apply for a specific major. The higher demand of some programs has raised the entrance bar very high. Entrance is based on three factors, (percentages are approximate) 1.  GPA (50%),  2. SAT/ACT Scores (45%) and 3. extra-curricular activities (5%). Stats for Fall 2010 Freshman are:

Cal Poly
Ave GPA = 3.84
Ave Reading SAT = 588
Ave Math SAT = 627
Composite ACT = 26.8

BRAE Major
Ave GPA = 3.69
Ave Reading SAT = 558
Ave Math SAT = 611
Ave Composite ACT = 24.9

ASM Major
Ave GPA = 3.55
Ave Reading SAT = 489
Ave Math SAT = 556
Ave Composite ACT = 21.8

The “Early Decision” program only affects those with the Highest Scores, allowing them to know early if they are admitted to Cal Poly.  Only about 10% of the incoming students are selected via this program.

Prospective students should make sure they adhere to the guidelines given here to maximize their probability of being selected for admission.

On 14 October the College of Agriculture will be hosting a “Fall Preview” program. This is an opportunity for perspective students to learn about Cal Poly and potential majors.

Answered by Dr. Richard Cavaletto, BRAE Department Head: We are happy to welcome you to Cal Poly and the BRAE department for a visit. On Oct 14th the College of Agriculture is having “Fall Preview”. See http://cafes.calpoly.edu/Events/FallPreview/Index.html At Fall Preview students are hear from speakers about admissions, housing, etc. and then visit departments of their interest. This would be the easiest way to learn more about Cal Poly and the BRAE dept.  If this date doesn’t work do you have another date in mind.

Like all Cal Poly departments, our standards are high.  However, we accept a higher percentage of applicants than other departments.  Maybe it's because of our strange name, or maybe it's because it is difficult for students who have never been here to understand what we offer, but whatever the reason, we currently do not receive an overwhelming number of new-student applications each year.  Many students transfer to our department once they get a "feel" for us, and some do transfer to other, high-applicant departments once they get into Cal Poly. 

We don't want to brag (although maybe we do), but our graduates are in high demand.  Our reputation for producing well-educated, experienced, and workplace-ready graduates has been well-established throughout California and the rest of the world.  To get an idea of what some of our former students are doing now, check out our alumni highlights page.

Our "learn by doing" philosophy does not end when students walk out the classroom door.  Our students are involved in a variety of clubs, including the Agricultural Engineering Society and ASABE.  We also offer the annual tractor pull, and our successful quarter-scale tractor team, among others.  You can find out about these and more during our monthly department-wide barbecues.  If it's job experience you're looking for, our world-renowned Irrigation Training and Research Center offers valuable student jobs, and we always offer help finding summer jobs and internships.

Yes!  Check out our scholarship page for open application information, visit Cal Poly's financial aid office, or contact the department office for many more scholarship opportunities that aren't listed here.

Feel free to peruse the website for ideas about academic programs, clubs, or, student activities.  You can also find information on how to visit the campus.  If you're still curious, please feel free to contact us.